At this point, it seems all but certain that the 2013-14 season is done for the Oilers. The team is in a hole so deep in a conference so good that clawing back into a playoff spot is going to be an extremely difficult proposition. Given that, does it make sense to start the tank job and go for the best available pick?

Not on your life.

RE-BUILD

Rebuild has gotten to be an ugly word in Edmonton, but the idea is sound. The trouble is that the Oilers have only been able to execute one part of it.

Via dictionary.com:

"Withdrawal or backward motion" pretty much sums up the Edmonton Oilers post-Pronger. But that's only half the battle.

Again from dictionary.com:

Pick a definition; that's the plan now. The Oilers need to construct a better NHL team. They need to establish, increase and/or strengthen their ability to compete with other clubs. They need to mold or form young players into championship-calibre professionals. And on and on it goes.

The Edmonton Oilers are masters of “re-.” They’ve got “re-“ down cold. It’s the whole “build” part of the word that was always going to be much, much more difficult and seems to have the organization flummoxed.

Tossing The Season

That’s why it’s important that general manager Craig MacTavish not toss his hands in the air and say ‘forget it, we’ll move the vets at the deadline and take the pick.’ That portion of the rebuild needs to be over. That’s not to say that pending free agents that aren’t in the plans can’t be let go at the deadline – just that the focus has to be on building the team for next year.

Draft picks are a long-term investment that, if they pay off at all, pay off years down the road. This isn’t a team that needs more draft picks. This isn't a team that needs the highest possible first overall pick this summer.

The lone focus here, with this season already all but over, has to be on making the playoffs next season – and the best way to do that is to do everything possible to make and keep the team competitive this season. Even if that means picking 10th overall rather than in the top-five.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

BUFFALO FIRES THEIR COACH and GM after a crappy start..... PHILLY FIRES THEIR COACH after a crappy star..... and in EDMONTON ??? What do the Oilers do to shake things up??? They trade our grittiest D-man and bring in a goaltender that was absolutely IGNORED BY 29 other teams!!!

really??? as I stated earlier the kids are now young men learning to play in a mans league-if you look at most teams they shelter and groom them in the ahl until they are 21-its sad that the majority of the posters agree that RNH, Hall, Eberle, Yakupov are destroying the organization-trash me all you want but it is obvious that your anger outweighs logic, glad you guys aren't in charge

You misunderstood. The destroyers from the top are the "original" boys on the bus. Not the current players getting thrown under it.
J.

Is this one of those where Potter finished his conditioning stints and he has to come back up, or did they just send a bad message to Fedun. Fedun been so-so defensively, but has contributed to the offence. Anyone got some perspective?

No, it's not that.

Potter's conditioning stint ended a while back at which point he was waived and demoted. He's been very good in the minors; I'd guess he's (rightly, IMO) seen as a better option than Fedun right now.

Now here's a stat to ponder: @mc79hockey The Oilers are the 29th worst defensive team in the NHL when Yakupov isn't on the ice.

Interesting. If you look up turnovers on NHL.com, Yakupov is far from the worst culprit.

His defensive positioning and understanding his assignments require leaps and bounds of work but I'm sure he will become average at best over the next several seasons. Just need to wake him up offensively and play him with someone to mask his defensive issues.

If Lowe's been in other roles - overseeing the broader organization (the Barons, the Oil Kings, etc.) - and not been involved in the day-to-day of the Oilers, I don't think he should be fired for the sins of Steve Tambellini.

Will we ever know to end the speculation, or just let it fester. More Prep H over here.

If Lowe's been in other roles - overseeing the broader organization (the Barons, the Oil Kings, etc.) - and not been involved in the day-to-day of the Oilers, I don't think he should be fired for the sins of Steve Tambellini.

See, I think he is pulling strings. See how defensive the imbecile got when he got questioned after the Tambellini firing? He didn't say, I left everything up to Tambellini.

No no no, don't start with the 4th line, start by adding tough, gritty hard to play against top 9 a la Burke. That means we have to give up something to get something, "BOLD MOVES". Can you see this team playing playoff hockey when the intensity gets turned up?

why do people come on here and make ridiculous trade suggestions, as if they believe that every other team in the league will go out of their way to make Edmonton better. Furthermore...what the hell has Tyler Myers accomplished since his rookie season? Honestly. Think about these things before you post them.

What is the best way to tell the team and it's fans that the recent history of the club is unacceptable ?. You punt the "reason" we're in this mess in the first place. If the kids on the team see the ship being run astray with no accountability at the top, how can anybody preach accountability to the players, it seems like lip service. The fact is that the team has been brutal for years and in this, the year we were to see an improvement, we see regression. Clear out the top and send the message that "incompetence" will NOT be tolerated.
ANYMORE !!

I see you've got your list out, say your peace and get out.
Yes I get the gist of it, but it's all right
Sorry that you feel that way, the only thing there is to say is...
Every silver lining's got a touch of grey.
I will get by, I will get by, I will get by, I will survive.

Will we ever know to end the speculation, or just let it fester. More Prep H over here.

More like vaseline - let's just fast forward to April and get this rerun over with...'Team Toe Drag' is still no where near a playoff spot and will make minor trades at deadline, then go on minor winning streak to end season, get a top ten draft pick, and this time replace assistant coaches.
The only way to break this cycle is to remove Kevin Lowe.
....and as a feel good move replace Jack Michaels and Bob Stauffer.

More like vaseline - let's just fast forward to April and get this rerun over with...'Team Toe Drag' is still no where near a playoff spot and will make minor trades at deadline, then go on minor winning streak to end season, get a top ten draft pick, and this time replace assistant coaches.
The only way to break this cycle is to remove Kevin Lowe.
....and as a feel good move replace Jack Michaels and Bob Stauffer.

Wow. This is why you don't have credibility. You say that Voracek is better that Eberle because in a 48 game season Voracek out scored him. When it's pointed out that Eberle is beating him this year you say small sample size. How about full sample size: Eberle career PPG .799 Voracek .615

Fedun's demotion in favour of Potter would also be consistent with Katz ordering management to reduce payroll. Fedun is oon a two way contract. Potter is on a one way NHL deal.

Seven hundred grand savings is nothing to sneeze at when you are talking about your own money.

Another year with no playoff revenue, I wouldn't blame Katz for cutting the budget. Spending to the cap sure didn't bring results.

Although choosing Smid to dump salary is still perplexing to me. Terrible trade.

I'm with you, money can't buy love or a winning hockey team. As for Smid if there would have been another deal in place where $ needed to be shed, whatever. With MacT stating its for cap help next year than he's either an idiot or Smid crossed the line on something. With all our matinees so far this season its fitting that this is such a soap opera.

hey J.W,how about the fans give the oil a standing O tonight and cheer through out the game,lets see if we can kick start our team instead of leaving it to our incompetent managment team!lets make these guys feel like someone is behind them and turn this year around,I know they dont deserve it but lets rock the hell out of rexall tonight!

Wow!

Cheering failure. That ought to work...

I'm sure It will really send a message to management that we think they are incompetent.

Is this one of those where Potter finished his conditioning stints and he has to come back up, or did they just send a bad message to Fedun. Fedun been so-so defensively, but has contributed to the offence. Anyone got some perspective?

I'm not surprised. I'm just waiting for the announcement that Arcobello has been sent down. The Oiler way...2 steps forward 3 steps...etc

Is this one of those where Potter finished his conditioning stints and he has to come back up, or did they just send a bad message to Fedun. Fedun been so-so defensively, but has contributed to the offence. Anyone got some perspective?

Willis tweeted yesterday how Potter has been very good in OKC. Shot differential was something like -14 with Potter not on the ice, and +65 with him on it. So basically, he earned a shot with great play.

Willis tweeted yesterday how Potter has been very good in OKC. Shot differential was something like -14 with Potter not on the ice, and +65 with him on it. So basically, he earned a shot with great play.

With Eakins, MacT and Lowe setting the Oiler record for the fastest bombing of a season (beating their own previous record) I hope they continue to manage and play guys like Smyth, Eager, N. Schultz as much as possible while Eakins continues his blowhard views of how the young guys have to "earn it" and "learn the system".

With another season shot, Our young guys and future roster players should be playing in every situation possible. If not now, then when? When we are in the Conference Final??? PS - Nuge will be 35 years by then.

Eakins has been the Biggest bust in the last 10 years, maybe since Jason Bonsignore. He's demolished our once successful PP and PK, and implemented this ridiculous "swarm defense". Tell us again how we will be the most fit team and the most ultra competitive unit in the league for all 60 minutes.

PS - Thank you to both MacT and Lowe for Green Lighting this coaching hire.

PPS - Katz, enjoy the Caribbean. See you in March when you get back to start hitting us season ticket holders up for next years deposit. Plus 6 percent increase, of coarse.

And that increase is at the dump, I mean northlands....... Get ready for double digit increases when they move!

really??? as I stated earlier the kids are now young men learning to play in a mans league-if you look at most teams they shelter and groom them in the ahl until they are 21-its sad that the majority of the posters agree that RNH, Hall, Eberle, Yakupov are destroying the organization-trash me all you want but it is obvious that your anger outweighs logic, glad you guys aren't in charge

Wow, how long have you lived in Edmonton son? Get a grip and do some research! The boys on the bus are the management of this team who used to play on this team. It is really hard to blame the kids for this mess!!

If Lowe's been in other roles - overseeing the broader organization (the Barons, the Oil Kings, etc.) - and not been involved in the day-to-day of the Oilers, I don't think he should be fired for the sins of Steve Tambellini.

Even if Lowe isnt making the Oiler decisions (Although he travel with mact and mess on a scouting/trade mission so apparently he is heavily involved in the day to day) He is the man responsible for the Hockey operations and the Hockey operations have been a catastrophe. Tambo's sins were basically not being a friend of Katz

really??? as I stated earlier the kids are now young men learning to play in a mans league-if you look at most teams they shelter and groom them in the ahl until they are 21-its sad that the majority of the posters agree that RNH, Hall, Eberle, Yakupov are destroying the organization-trash me all you want but it is obvious that your anger outweighs logic, glad you guys aren't in charge

Most organizations don't shelter first overall picks in the AHL until they are 21, first overalls immediately make it to the NHL the majority of the time.

The only reason i say J Schultz is we need a tougher D. Im liking Larsen and how he is jumping into the play a la J Schultz but still gets back on D.

The second line may relive the magic of the WJC….

Hallsie gets a guy that plays like him with the magician RNH that can feed those two…..

AM I CRAZY JIM???!

Please pass this to Mc T if you approve!

Your devoted and humble fan in Vancouver,

1. Earthworm Jim?

2. I doubt Philly goes for that deal, though nuttier things have happened. As much as the Oilers value size and strength, the Flyers positively worship it.

3. I'd personally rather have Yakupov on my NHL team than Cody Hodgson, and not by only a little bit. I'm not wild about either Justin Schultz or Tyler Myers, but only one have them hasn't been signed to a boat anchor contract yet and that guy is Schultz. I wouldn't make that swap 2-for-2 as Edmonton, let alone toss in a 2014 first.

Since Buffalo's making changes MacT should be calling about Foligno, Ott, and Tallinder, just a few guys that would address team needs right now.

Maybe whoever the Sabres name as GM will forget all about the Vanek offer sheet and deal with us? Both teams badly need to make some changes, both fan bases would welcome it if the deal was fair I'm sure.